Thursday, December 20, 2018

Old Ford PickupTruck Painting

Old Ford Pickup Truck
16x20 Original Oil On Stretched Canvas
by Cheri Wollenberg
This original oil painting features an old, vintage pickup truck that I painted from a photo.  I took the photo while on a trip to New Mexico about 10 years ago.  It had been parked and may be forgotten by now.  It reminded me of days when my father loved the Ford brand.  Nearly all of his vehicles were Fords.  This painting would make a great gift for someone as a birthday or Father's Day gift.  Christmas gifts can always be promised at a later date since postal delivery is not a promised at this point in 2018, but, nevertheless, delivered later.  You can find this painting in my Etsy shop by clicking here.

Friday, December 7, 2018

Daddy - The Best Santa Claus Ever!

Santa Daddy
16x20 Original Oil on Canvas
by Cheri Wollenberg 2018

I am a very blessed artist!  I enjoy sharing how and why I create paintings with my friends and viewers.  Today's post is very special to me.  It is exceptional and straight from the heart of the daughter of this Santa (above) about her daddy.  How precious our time on earth is!  How important it is to love others and spread the joy of Christ!  

The Night Before Christmas!

This Santa was a small-town funeral director.  His ministry was in helping
others walk through a life-changing experience in the death of a loved one.  

With this ministry came yet another ministry!  This ministry was sharing his love by providing
years of memories for others in his community.  Every Christmas Eve he left his family for a few hours and would don the red suit, bells and boots, and start his rounds.  Checking his list that had started building since the first of November by people in the community calling in for their reserved time for his visit, he would begin his journey.

Instructions were left for him, "Pink bike in the black truck" or "10 Caboodles in the red car in the back seat" or "4-Wheeler goes at the side of the house...Ride to front fence".
One Christmas a family whom he had served as funeral director just a month earlier were home.
Their daddy has died leaving a wonderful wife and two little boys.  Santa knocked on the door and the door was opened by the mom with the boys at her side.  A belly laugh, "Ho Ho Ho" greeted them!
The mom invited him in as the little boys were jumping up and down saying, "We knew you would come!!!  Mom, we TOLD you he would come."  A short visit gave a long and remembered memory.

God gives us His joy in our hearts.  We can cap it and keep it to ourselves OR pass it on.  This Santa chose to pass God's gift of joy to others.  He did this every Christmas Eve for 25 years.  His family 
joyfully supported sharing him with others on this night.  

On his last Christmas Eve of doing what he loved...This Santa saw 110 children in their homes.
He accepted no pay for his night of sharing God's joy.  He believed..."Joy in the heart wasn't put there to stay...Joy isn't Joy 'til it's given away."

This Santa was my dad.  He died from a massive heart attack on...Christmas Eve..1971.

B.L.W


Monday, December 3, 2018

Santa V - Jerry

Santa V - Jerry 
16x20 Original Oil Painting 2018
Cheri Wollenberg

Santa V is a friend from my husband's and my past.  Actually he was one of my husbands highschool students.  He along with his family lived just down the road from our country home.  I saw a photo of him a couple of years ago dressed up as Santa Claus.  I thought he made a very good model for a painting so I asked if I could use his photo.  He graciously gave me permission and I'm quite happy the way he turned out.  I'm hoping he has a chance this year, 2018, to give a boy or girl hope for a gift or blessing that might change their life in some way.  Stay tuned for more a few more Santa paintings this year and in the meantime you can find Jerry at FAA by either clicking this image in the border section of this post or clicking here. I also have a slide video posted on my FB page of my painting process of Santa V.  If you decide to visit my page listed below feel free to "like" and follow any art updates.  Thanks.
https://www.facebook.com/ArtbyCheriWollenberg/


Poppy The Pig, Original Oil Painting by Cheri Wollenberg

Poppy Original 8x8 Oil Painting On Canvas by Cheri Wollenberg   Poppy is pig who might be hungry and waiting on his master to bring corn or ...